Cape York mayors welcome visitors despite uncertainty over camp spots due to native title rights

Cape York leaders are imploring campers to travel to the remote Far North peninsula in numbers over Easter despite uncertainty over access to key camping grounds due to native title rights.

CAPE York community leaders are imploring campers to travel to the remote Far North peninsula in numbers over Easter despite uncertainty over access to key camping grounds, declaring most of the area “open for business”.

Traditional owners will hold a meeting on Wednesday where they were expected to discuss the possibility of locking tourists out of some iconic campgrounds – such as Bathurst Heads, Janie Creek and Vrilya Point – citing a “lack of respect” by visitors on native land owned by the Gudang/Yadhaykenu.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said, while some needed to show greater respect for Indigenous culture, a looming decision on “some areas” should not deter people from travelling to Cooktown and on the Peninsula Development Road.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott says Cooktown and most of Cape York is excited to welcome tourists over the Easter school holiday period and beyond.

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“The Cape is very much open for business and preparing for a bumper tourist season,” he said.

“Tourists (do) need to learn to respect the environment, the country and Indigenous culture.

“The many shire councils and property owners on Cape York recognise the value of tourism and are working together to develop better product and facilities.”

Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Mayor Jason Woibo said while they “don’t have much of a say” over native title land, he wanted as many tourists as possible passing through the Cape.

“We want money being spent back up here, in our shops and communities,” he said.

“We have culture centres and there are other places to go other than those couple of camps that are blocked off.”

Hope Vale Mayor Jason Woibo says popular camp grounds, such as Eddie's Campground at Elim Beach (pictured) in Cape York, are still open. PICTURE: TTNQ

Originally published as Cape York mayors welcome visitors despite uncertainty over camp spots due to native title rights